Thursday Jan 22, 2026
Thursday Jan 22, 2026
Thursday, 22 January 2026 05:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Government of Sri Lanka has formally rescinded Extraordinary Gazette No. 2383/05 dated May 6, 2024, which altered the boundaries of the Wedithalathive Nature Reserve, through the issuance of Extraordinary Gazette No. 2463/47 dated November 21, 2025.
Concerned with the said Gazette No. 2383/05, Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) filed a Fundamental Rights Application on 05th June 2024, challenging the legality of the Gazette that proposed the demarcation of land within the Wedithalathivu Nature Reserve for aquaculture activities. The Application challenged the Gazette on grounds of environmental harm and procedural irregularity, emphasizing the ecological importance of the Reserve’s mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass beds, which support biodiversity and local communities.
On 27th June 2024, the Supreme Court issued an interim order staying the operation of the impugned Gazette and directed all Respondents to maintain the status quo. During subsequent proceedings, the Attorney General representing the State informed the Court that the Cabinet had decided to revoke the Gazette, and steps were being taken to formally rescind the impugned Gazette.
On 19th January 2026, the Attorney General informed the Supreme Court that the impugned Gazette had been officially rescinded by Gazette No. 2463/47 dated 21.11.2025. In light of this development, and as the relief sought had been achieved, the Petitioner withdrew the Fundamental Rights Application. The rescission thus prevented the proposed allocation of land for aquaculture and reaffirmed the Wedithalathivu Nature Reserve’s protection under Sri Lanka’s conservation framework.
This marks a milestone in Sri Lanka’s legal and environmental landscape, reaffirming the role of the judiciary and public interest litigation in defending protected areas and ensuring accountability in environmental governance.
WNPS was represented by President’s Counsel Sanjeeva Jayawardena, with Attorneys-at-Law Dilumi de Alwis, Revan Weerasinghe, and Rukshan Senadheera, instructed by S. W. Amila Kumara.
